Democracy: This assembly promotes the idea that although we may not be superheroes, we all have the power to make the world a better place. This power includes making our wishes known to those who would represent us within a democratic process.

OPENING ACTIVITY

Superhero Battle: (Challenge)

Who can name more Superheroes? Invite two volunteers to join you at the front. In turn, they must give the name of a Superhero. If one of the volunteers hesitates, gives the name of a Superhero that doesn’t exist or repeats the name of a Superhero that has already been mentioned, they are replaced by another volunteer. The game continues.

FILM CLIP 1

From Incredibles 2 (Disney, 2018) certificate PG.

Start time: 00:36:14 (The robber on the television says, ‘This is a hold-up!’)

End time: 00:39:08 (Mr. Incredible says, ‘Oh my God!’)

Clip length: 2 minutes and 54 seconds.

If you cannot play this clip from the DVD, instead say, ‘Whilst watching a film on television with Jack-Jack, Mr Incredible falls asleep. The film shows a man in a mask committing armed robbery. Out of the window of the room where he is watching television, Jack-Jack sees a raccoon foraging in the bin. Jack-Jack confuses the raccoon with the robber on television and goes out into the garden to confront the animal. Jack-Jack and the raccoon have an enormous fight during which the baby demonstrates a range of different super powers. Jack-Jack has the ability to clone himself, he can shoot laser beams from his eyes, he can pass through solid objects. The sound of the fight between Jack-Jack and the raccoon wakes up Mr. Incredible. At first, he is concerned for Jack-Jack but then is astonished to discover that his baby son has so many different super powers’.

Welcome everyone to our Christmas assembly which is based on the film, Incredibles 2.

[PowerPoint slide 2]

The Incredibles are just one group of Superheroes amongst hundreds in films, TV programmes and comics. But how many Superheroes can you name?

[PowerPoint slide 3]

Let’s find out by playing a Superhero Battle. [Play the game until volunteers are struggling to name Superheroes not mentioned previously. Congratulate volunteers on their extensive knowledge of Superheroes.]

[PowerPoint slide 4]

The film Incredibles 2 continues the story of the Superhero family that we first met in the film, The Incredibles. All Superheroes are banned from exercising their super powers.

[PowerPoint slide 5]

So instead of saving the world from Superbaddies, Mr. Incredible is now a stay-at-home Dad, looking after Baby Jack-Jack and his two other children. He finds this new job just as tiring as his old one. However, one night, he makes an amazing discovery about Jack-Jack.

Play film clip from Incredibles 2 (Disney, 2018) certificate PG.

Start time: 00:36:14 (The robber on the television says, ‘This is a hold-up!’)

End time: 00:39:08 (Mr. Incredible says, ‘Oh my God!’)

Clip length: 2 minutes and 54 seconds.

If you cannot play this clip from the DVD, instead say, ‘Whilst watching a film on television with Jack-Jack, Mr Incredible falls asleep. The film shows a man in a mask committing armed robbery. Out of the window of the room where he is watching television, Jack-Jack sees a raccoon foraging in the bin. Jack-Jack confuses the raccoon with the robber on television and goes out into the garden to confront the animal. Jack-Jack and the raccoon have an enormous fight during which the baby demonstrates a range of different super powers. Jack-Jack has the ability to clone himself, he can shoot laser beams from his eyes, he can pass through solid objects. The sound of the fight between Jack-Jack and the raccoon wakes up Mr. Incredible. At first, he is concerned for Jack-Jack but then is astonished to discover that his baby son has so many different super powers’.

[PowerPoint slide 6]

Throughout the world, at Christmas time, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. They believe that he was a very special baby but not in the same way as Jack-Jack. Jesus didn’t have laser beam eyes or the ability to clone himself. He was a normal, helpless baby but Christians believe that he was also God. As God, Jesus could have come to Earth as a full-grown adult with more super powers than any Superhero that has ever been created. But, instead, he chose to give up his power and be born into the world like every other human being. This is what the Bible says:

[PowerPoint slide 7]

Share the Bible verse Philippians 2:6-7 with the children. What do they make of this idea?

[PowerPoint slide 8]

Power is a big theme in the film Incredibles 2 because the Incredibles and their Superhero friends are banned by law from using their super powers.

[PowerPoint slide 9]

Screenslaver, the Superbaddie or villain in the film thinks that this is a good idea because he believes that Superheroes make normal people feel powerless. Superheroes stop people from solving their own problems. This is what he tells his TV audience.

[PowerPoint slide 10]

Discuss quote. Might this be true in Superhero films? Might this also be true in the children’s lives? Do they look to other people to solve problems that they could solve themselves?

[PowerPoint slide 11]

When Jesus became an adult, He began doing miracles as signs that He was God. (Can the children remember any miracle stories from the Bible?) The things that He did amazed people but, towards the end of His life on Earth, this is what He told his followers:

[PowerPoint slide 12]

Share the Bible verse John 14:12 with children. What do they understand by it?

[PowerPoint slide 13]

Throughout history, Christians and others, all normal human beings like you and me, have been inspired by the example of Jesus and have worked hard to end hunger, cure disease and make the world a better place for everyone.

Why do you think Christians believe God chose to come to Earth as a helpless baby rather than a Superhero?

Do you agree or disagree with Screenslaver’s views about Superheroes?

What do you think is the meaning behind Screenslaver’s name?

What things do other people do for you that you could do for yourself?

This Christmas, how could you make the world a better place for another person?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for coming to Earth as a normal baby so that you can fully understand what it is like to be human. You have given humans many strengths and talents. Working together, we have achieved many great things. May we use our strengths and talents to help make our homes and our school better places for everyone in which to live and to learn. Amen.